City acquires waterfront land for destination park

The City of Kelowna has acquired a 1.8-acre waterfront lot at 3896 Truswell Road to create a destination beach park that links the Mission Creek Greenway and the Waterfront Walkway.

The parcel of land sits at the mouth of Mission Creek, and offers 340 feet of lakeshore, 220 feet of creek-shore, and panoramic views of Okanagan Lake.

“The purchase of this stunning property is truly a legacy for our city, it’s an important step to ensuring that Kelowna’s beautiful waterfront can be enjoyed by all for generations to come,” Mayor Tom Dyas said.

The addition will expand water-based park and mooring destinations for the city’s 27-kilometre-long Paddle Trail, increase connectivity with downtown beach parks through links to Rotary Beach Park and Bluebird Beach Park and unlock 400 feet of existing walkway that is otherwise landlocked, securing public access to the two-acre beachfront area commonly known as ‘secret beach.’

“This parcel is a cornerstone in the city’s plan to create a series of destination beach parks linked together by a 31-kilometre unbroken chain of pathways and waterways,” Derek Edstrom, divisional director, partnerships and investments, City of Kelowna, said. “We are excited to open ‘secret beach’ to the community who has already embraced it as a unique place to skimboard or enjoy the southern lake view.”

The property was sold to the city by the Truswell family who have lived there since 1940.
With its position at the mouth of Mission Creek, the property is also an important environmental asset for the City and will play a key role in safeguarding lake water quality, flood protection, and sediment control planning in the area.

The $18 million purchase of the 1.8-acre property was funded from the Development Cost Charge (DCC) program and supplemented from City Land Reserves with no funding from general taxation.

Public access is currently restricted, and removal of the residence and site clearing is anticipated in Spring 2024, with the objective of making the property accessible to the public as soon as reasonably achievable. Learn more about this exciting property acquisition by watching the video below.